Can CR2016, CR2025, CR2032 "coin batteries" be used interchangably?

[Kwad Guy]

I have a ton of CR2016 lithium coin cells around, leftovers from an old project. I have a number of devices that are supposed to take CR2025 or CR2032 coin cells. The CR2016s will fit these devices, and will make the necessary contacts...and they seem to work, at least initially. (Among the devices that use one or the other: motherboards).

My question: Is it a bad idea to use the CR2016s when CR2025s or CR2032s are specified? They are all 3 volts. Typically, CR2016s are rated at about 80mAh, while CR2032s are rated to around 170mAh.

I assume the CR2016s won't last as long as the CR2032s. But if the difference is 2 years instead of 5 or something like that, it doesn't matter in the apps I'd use them for...

Kwad

 

[Mday]

yes, they are interchangeable as long as you keep the quantity in use the same, as well as the direction(s). the primary difference is in the mAH rating, as well as the size. The mAH ratings are not linear, so because battery A has 1 mAH, and battery B has 2 mAH, that battery B will last 2x as long as battery A.

Typically, the batteries are used for space limitations.